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Former NDP MP Charlie Angus, a fierce opposition critic who transitioned from activism to public office, is leaving politics, announcing his departure as his Northern Ontario riding gains a new name and expands significantly.
His announcement today marks the end of a political career in which Angus served as caucus chairman and ran for party leader in 2017, coming in second to incumbent Jagmeet Singh.
Angus will remain an MP until the next election.
“After seven elections, 20 years of service, and the privilege of being the longest serving MP in Timmins history, it is time to pass the baton,” Angus said in a statement on Thursday.
Full story here.
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TODAY’S HEADS
Ottawa launches $1.5-billion fund to protect existing rental apartments: Today’s announcement is the latest in a series of housing promises from the Trudeau government, which is under pressure to deal with the country’s shortage of affordable housing.
No criminal probes into foreign interference in past two general elections, RCMP chief says: RCMP commissioner Mike Duheme also said none of the police partners had referred intelligence to the Mounties that would have warranted such criminal investigations.
Ford delays start of electric vehicle production at Oakville, Ont., plant until 2027: The move will mean extended redundancies for the majority of the factory’s 2,700 workers, Ford spokesman Said Deep said today.
How Canada’s potato capacity could help strengthen Ukraine’s economy: Two PEI business partners – one a former federal cabinet minister – have created a company to help boost Ukraine’s agricultural economy and viability by investing in planting, harvesting and selling potatoes.
Home prices in Canada could reach peak levels by next year: CMHC report: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp’s latest housing market outlook report also says housing starts in Canada are expected to decline this year before improving in 2025 and 2026.
Canada lost 8.6 million hectares of forest in 2023, more than 90 percent to wildfires: The satellite-derived showed data, produced by researchers at the University of Maryland that the pieces of forest burned in Canada in 2023 represent one of the biggest discrepancies seen since they began collecting the data globally in 2001.
Ford’s office claims Premier meant medical schools when he said he wanted ‘100 per cent’ Ontario students in universities: “I’m not being shy, but I look after our students, our children first,” the Premier said at a news conference this week.
New challenges for Ottawa’s troubled LRT system: A train slowed down and stopped service on the western end of the Confederation Line in the nation’s capital, causing chaos for commuters going to work this morning, according to CTV reports.
POLITICAL QUOTES TODAY
“I have to directly disagree with what Prime Minister Netanyahu said yesterday when he said, Well. This happens in conflict and during war.’ It just doesn’t and shouldn’t happen.” – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in Winnipeg, during a news conference with Premier Wab Kinnew. He was referring to an airstrike in Israel that killed seven aid workers.
“There is a broad consensus that we want to do better for the environment. I think there is an equally broad consensus that we have to find ways to make life more affordable. Everyone deals with the cost of living.” – Manitoba Premier Wab Kinnew, after noting that the carbon pricing conversation has become “divisive,” at the news conference in Winnipeg with Trudeau.
THIS AND THAT
Commons, Senate: The House of Commons is in recess until April 8. The Senedd sits again on April 9.
Deputy Prime Minister’s Day: In Toronto, Chrystia Freeland toured an affordable rental apartment building and made a housing announcement ahead of the 2024 federal budget.
Ministers on the Road: The affordability announcements continue, with ministers out across Canada while the House of Commons is on a two-week recess, namely: Treasury Board President Anita Anand in Calgary. Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault in Edmonton. Minister of Public Services Jean-Yves Duclos, Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinsona Marci Ien, minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth in Halifax. Sports Minister Carla Qualtrough a President of the Privy Council Harjit Sajjan in Vancouver. Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez a Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez in Quebec City. Filomena Tassi, the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario in Whitby.
Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly attended the last day of the NATO Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting in Brussels.
IS in Nunavut: Governor General Mary Simon and her partner Whit Fraser conclude an official visit to the territory today.
PRIME MINISTER’S DAY
In Winnipeg, Justin Trudeau met with families to discuss affordable housing, and made a housing announcement, along with Premier Wab Kinnew.
LEADERS
Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet finished a tour of the Gaspé Peninsula today, with commitments that included a news conference, and attending a meeting with the Rocher-Percé forestry group.
Conservative leader Pierre Polievre was scheduled to host a party fundraiser in the Vancouver Island community of Campbell River.
The leader of the Green Party, Elizabeth May, with Deputy Party Leader Jonathan Pedneault, continued a national tour, stopping in Winnipeg and meeting with La Société de la francophonie manitobaine.
NDP Leader Jagmeet SinghAlso in Winnipeg, he joined the picket line of Griffin Wheel workers, Unifor Local 144, and then met with Premier Wab Kinnew.
THE DECIBEL
On today’s edition of The Globe and Mail podcast, Philip Mai, senior researcher and co-director of the Social Media Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University, discussed a lawsuit by four Ontario school boards suing the companies behind Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat for billions of dollars, joining a long list of school districts in the US do the same. The Decibel is here.
PUBLIC OPINION
The Conservatives have a federal funding edge: Nanos Research says the federal Conservatives now have a 16-point lead over the Liberals in terms of trust to manage federal government finances responsibly.
OPINION
A crucial push to speed up the approval process for mines
“Canada’s quest for critical minerals has led to a surprising promise: The federal government says it can cut the time it takes for a proposed mine to go through the regulatory review process from 12 to 15 years — to five only. Without access to a supply of pixie dust or a time machine, this undertaking will require a great deal of goodwill and cooperation from industry, First Nations and the provinces and territories.” – The Globe and Mail Editorial Board.
Trudeau’s Liberals are full of promises on everything except Canada’s highest priority: defence
“The federal government has become strangely surreal. Every day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces new initiatives that are a combination of (a) unnecessary, (b) outside of federal jurisdiction and (c) unlikely to be realized before the next federal election. Meanwhile, the government remains silent on the most pressing issue, and one for which it is 100 percent responsible: increasing Canada’s defenses in a world that grows more dangerous every day. ” – John Ibbitson.
Trudeau should not reject Chrétien and Harper’s offer on 24 Sussex
“Former prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Stephen Harper have volunteered to lead a campaign to raise the money to restore the building. They would do so with donations from individuals and businesses who want the embarrassment to end. There would be limits on contributions so no one could claim credit as a main driver. They would do the work for $1, with the goal of completing the renovation within two to three years. How could anyone object to that?” – Lawrence Martin.
A carbon tax will hurt the economy, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t the right policy
“Let’s be honest: a carbon tax will hurt the economy, and reducing Canadian emissions won’t do much for climate change. But we should also do our part, and carbon pricing is the option that should appeal most to conservative people and be the least economically damaging.” – Claude Lavoie
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